Middle East Experience

In the wake of a spate of mysterious fires and various incidents, Iran bragged Sunday about having established a network of underground “missile cities” that could be “a nightmare for Iran’s enemies.”..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: In wake of setbacks, Iran boasts of ‘missile cities’ underground

The 2020 OECD Employment Outlook report points to a 708% surge of unemployment. Real figures might be even worse.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: OECD: Israel to have 8% average unemployment rate by end of 2020

On Monday, the government approved a set of new regulations to help limit the spread of the coronavirus across Israel. What are they?
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Coronavirus restrictions reinstated: What are the new rules?

The first rule of sustainable travel is finding ways to move about the local area that are as low-impact as possible. The best method of travel for the environment is two feet and a heartbeat. Walking does not require any carbon emissions, gasoline, or manufacturing..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Does Eco-Friendly Travel Truly Exist?

Convention centre at WTC was converted to a 3,000-bed field hospital in April to treat coronavirus patients..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Video: Dubai closes Covid-19 field hospital, discharges last patient

The Palestinians “welcome the adoption of two resolutions by the Executive Committee of UNESCO on the need to preserve educational and cultural institutions in Palestine,” Hanan Ashrawi said.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: PLO: UNESCO must not be silent on Israeli cultural assault, annexation

Saudi Arabia aims to provide jobs for around 1 million Saudi Arabian women by 2030 as part of its Vision 2030 reform plan, Mishaal al-Balawi, an official at the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in Geneva, said on Tuesday.“The Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program 2020 have put women empowerment among their most important priorities,” al-Balawi said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Vision 2030, a reform plan presented by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to diversify the country’s economy and includes increasing women’s labor force participation.Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics announced on Tuesday that Saudi Arabian women’s unemployment rates dropped by 2.7 percent to 28.2 percent in the first quarter of 2020.“The Kingdom has banned discrimination against women in jobs and ensured equalization of women with men in their wages, and enhanced awareness about the importance of women’s participation in the employment market.”In recent years, the Kingdom has encouraged Saudi Arabian women to enter dozens of male-dominated fields, according to al-Balawi.“The Kingdom seeks to encourage women to study various disciplines, especially science, technology, mathematics, and engineering, as this provides a variety of opportunities for them in the labor market,” he added.Read more:Saudi Arabia’s unemployment drops to under 12 percent in Q1, women join workforceSaudi Arabia moving in positive direction on gender equality for women: UK AmbassadorSaudi Arabia’s appointment of female rights council members empowering: PresidentSaudi Arabia has also issued several regulations that protect women from workplace harassment, al-Balawi said.“The Kingdom, through its regulations and agencies, is striving to address the phenomenon of violence against women at their workplaces as well as to enable them to work in a safe environment,” al-Balawi said. ”This is through enacting laws to protect women and preserve their rights, such as the Anti-Harassment Law and the Law of Protection from Abuse.”The official also addressed King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s royal decree appointing 13 women to the Kingdom’s Human Rights Commission Council. ”This is a continuation of what the Kingdom’s government is doing to empower women to occupy key positions,” he said.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia will provide jobs for 1 million Saudi women by 2030  

Dubai expects an “aggressive” bounce back in tourism by the year-end after the Mideast travel hub allowed holiday-makers to resume flying into the emirate from Tuesday.“We’re looking forward to seeing aggressive growth coming once things normalize towards the year-end,” Helal Al Marri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the appDubai, which spent years turning itself into a business and tourism hub, attracts millions of visitors annually thanks to its beaches, luxury hotels and high-end malls. It started easing restrictions in the past months after locking down the city and suspending travel.Al Marri also said:• “We’re definitely in a much better place today, people are much more optimistic, and we’re seeing it as definitely something very positive.”• “As countries get things under control, as things normalize, we definitely see the other side as being a very quick rebound to tourism.”• “We envisage as we move towards the year-end and as the markets do open up, people are going to start recruiting again, people are going to start to really trying to drive that growth because that’s what they’re there for with their businesses.”• No plan to introduce gambling.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai Crown Prince inspects Dubai Airport as tourists welcomed backCoronavirus: Dubai hotels ready to welcome foreign visitors as emirate reopensCoronavirus: Here's 10 things to do in Dubai, UAE as COVID-19 restrictions ease
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai expects ‘aggressive’ bounce back in tourism, official says

Saudi Arabia called on the international community to take a firm stance on Iran, and to extend the arms embargo on the Iranian regime on Tuesday.In a virtual meeting of the Kingdom’s Council of Ministers, Saudi Arabia also called for international members to “deal seriously with the nuclear and ballistic programs being developed by Iran,” state news agency SPA reported.The cabinet went on to reiterate the Kingdom’s commitment to regional stability and reaffirm that Saudi Arabia will not tolerate any transgression of its borders, national security threats, safety of water crossings and global economic activity to hostile Iranian actions.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the appThe UN Security Council previously denounced the targeting of Saudi Arabia by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen, an announcement the cabinet welcomed. Ministers called for the prompt implementation of the Riyadh Agreement and the importance of bringing peace back to Yemen.A UN report released in late June endorsed long-standing claims that weapons “of Iranian origin” were used in several attacks against Saudi Arabia last year and have been exported to the Houthis in Yemen.The report provided further evidence for US officials arguing to extend the arms embargo on Iran and further called into question Tehran’s public commitments to dialogue and the nuclear deal.Authored by the UN’s chief, Secretary-General António Guterres, it examined the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 – the resolution by which the UN endorsed the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015.Saudi Arabia welcomed the report, adding that it confirmed Iran’s well-known destabilizing regional behavior.“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has consistently warned of the security consequences of arms agreements that overlook Iran’s regional expansion and ignore the legitimate security concerns of regional states. Today, we are glad that international partners are acknowledging these issues. It might have taken some time, but better late than never,” Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UN Ambassador Abdallah Y. al-Mouallimi told Al Arabiya English at the time.Read more:Largest camel hospital in the world opens in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia will provide jobs for 1 million Saudi women by 2030Saudi Vice Defense Minister receives call from British counterpart
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi asks world to heed Iran nuclear threat, extend arms embargo, urges firm stance

The UAE reported on Wednesday 445 new coronavirus cases and one virus-related death, according to the state news agency WAM, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 53,045 and the death toll to 327.The country also reported 568 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 42,282.For all the latest coronavirus updates, visit our dedicated page. #COVID19 latest updates in the #UAE#WamNews pic.twitter.com/yvz1UFD8ke— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) July 8, 2020The Gulf country tested more than 51,000 people for the virus in the past 24 hours, according to WAM.Read more: Coronavirus: Here's 10 things to do in Dubai, UAE as COVID-19 restrictions easeCoronavirus: UAE plans to conduct 2 mln COVID-19 tests in next two monthsCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia, UAE COVID-19 cases rise after lockdowns lifted
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE reports 445 new coronavirus cases, one death